Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-22
RIcUMOND VA FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 22 1887.
San Francisco who could procure q san
or roE-hoat which would keep atloat

San Francisco who could procure san
or row-boat which would keep afioat
long enough TO make the trip were ON
their way to the spot. The decks ana
spars we're soon stripped OF everything
which could bemoved, and then the rad
on the cargo began. For awhile free
fight seemed inevitable, but the danger
was ayerted by a suggestion OF 0 return.
ed miner. The deck was staked on
into mining claims. Axes were OBJ
tanned from the ships stores, aud IN q
few minutes hundred men were busy
chopping holes in the decks as the
first step toward sinking shaft on
their claims. Before long entrances
were made, and then the fun began.
AS soon as a box was reached 1t was
opened, cursory inspection OF its con
tents made, and the more valuable
articles appropriated. Boats were busy
passing and repassing TO the shore, car
ryinR away the plumber secured by the
mining partners of the boat.owner'
Pales were set and lines rIn'in them on
the slopes Of the point 1t soon looked
as though all the laundries and drying
establishments in the country were hay-
ing en- industrial exhibition. Silks,
satins, cloth, woollen, cotton, and linen
goods Of every conceivable shade were
iiuttering and tapping in the wind.
As no man was alowedto go outside OF
the side lines ot his claim it was not
long before an energetic miner had
reached the lower hold and tapped u
barrel of whiskey. of which there was
a goodly quantity on board. he at
once announced his rich strike. Buck
cts were procured and the liquor passed
on deck. Cups, glasses, bfoken bot
ties, tin cans-a anything that would hold
the liquor long enough--were used as
drnking-vesscls. The fun grew fast
and furious. Men aimyed themselves
in hats. boots, aud ready made clothing
from the ships cargo and a genuine spree
was inaugurated. AS the liquor took
effect the members of the marine
mining camp resorted To the language
most familiar to them, and verltable
Babel was the result. The rigging, at
least so much of il as was left standing,
was soon occupied by men clad IN
broadcloth, wearing silk hats still
wrapped in paper, singing and shout
ing and encouraging the few workers
below in every language known to the
civilized world. The. soturnalia con-
tinued for three or four days, and only
ceased when the last of the cargo which
could be reached had been taken ont
and the ship was beginning to break
Up. Then the majority OF the wreck
efs abandoned her. but faithful
few refused TO leave as long rs a
barrel of liquor remained un-
broached. Some of them lay
about the deck in drunken stupor the
greater portion of the time, waking
only to renew their debauch and again
lapse into drunken sleep. When the
ship finally went to pieces 1t was known
that q number of men OF this class
were still on board. They were never
heard from again, and are supposed to
have gone To tine bottom or tioated ont
to sea to feed the fishes. In those days
the disappearance of man created but
little comment. He might have gone
to the mines, or. disgisted with frontier
life, have shipped before the mast on II
homeward- bound vessel. No inquiries
were made, and no ono can tell how
many of the miners who quarried out
the cargo of the North America came
to their death by drowning when the
ship broke up.